What is going on with the SANFL umpiring?

[doggod]

As a neutral observer of both games (for this week at least) and watching them both on tv today, I was astounded by the over umpiring once again. Every year it seems that our SANFL go into panic mode at finals time and just blow the whistle at every single body contest. They are destroying the competitveness and toughness that we associate with finals. The second game had around 60 frees and the 1st had 53!! That is just bloody ridiculous. And to top it off, why were they giving away 50 metre penalties??? We don't do 50 metres at SANFL unless it has been reportable?!! I go every week to Centrals games and I can honestly say I have only seen one 50 metre penalty paid this year. They have just plain panicked again - seems to happen every year. The players of all 4 teams gave their all. The umpires however were not up to the same standard.

[Apachebulldog]

Spot on doggod panic stations by the boys !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFFFFFF !!!!!

[Gilly]

The umpiring in both finals today was crap. Over-umpired IMO.

[CUTTERMAN]

Good point and it beats the hell out of me why we had such crap today. Only saw the first game and wasn't sure what I was watching, they normally let alot go but today was confusing, thought I was at an AFL game.

[stampy]

the umpiring today = shite

[Gilly]

they normally let alot go but today was confusing, thought I was at an AFL game.

Agreed. So many soft ones paid. And then there's the usual "ruck raffle" free? You have to laugh when both ruckmen look at each other wondering who the free was for. Unless it's an obvious shove or scrag or line infringement, play on FFS.

[youngster]

Agreed DogGod... the umpiring was a disgrace. Expect your email in box to be flooded tomorrow by a couple of unhappy Blues fans...

[Dutchy]

Boring

[Dirko]

Boring

Correct...

Why have a crack at the umpires, why not the players who do undisciplined acts...

[southee]

As a totally neutral supporter I thought the standard today was appalling.
Why over umpired.
One thing about the SANFL is it is so free flowing unlike the AWFUL. Thats one of the things we all love.
Let the game go a bit ump's and back off a bit.

[doggod]

As a neutral observer of both games (for this week at least) and watching them both on tv today, I was astounded by the over umpiring once again. Every year it seems that our SANFL go into panic mode at finals time and just blow the whistle at every single body contest. They are destroying the competitveness and toughness that we associate with finals. The second game had around 60 frees and the 1st had 53!! That is just bloody ridiculous. And to top it off, why were they giving away 50 metre penalties??? We don't do 50 metres at SANFL unless it has been reportable?!! I go every week to Centrals games and I can honestly say I have only seen one 50 metre penalty paid this year. They have just plain panicked again - seems to happen every year. The players of all 4 teams gave their all. The umpires however were not up to the same standard.

Let me correct that - the second game had over 70 free kicks!! That is a JOKE!! The umpires clearly failed to lift when the players were busting a gut.

[Wedgie]

The biggest question that has to be asked is why do the SANFL rest their best umpires in finals?

Apparantley its already a roster where some of the best umpires that missed out today will be umpiring next week and then miss out on the Prelim.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THE SANFL NOT HAVING THE 6 BEST UMPIRES UMPIRING FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS OF THE FINALS AND HAVING THE 3 BEST UMPIRES UMPIRING FOR THE LAST 2 WEEKS OF THE FINALS, NONE WHATSOEVER!

[woodwt]

There AFL wannabes!!

[NFC]

The umpiring in both finals today was crap. Over-umpired IMO.

Ditto this.

Pathetic umpiring display.

[Wedgie]

The umpiring in both finals today was crap. Over-umpired IMO.

Ditto this.

Pathetic umpiring display.

Agreed and ditto here too.

[Rhino]

As a totally neutral supporter I thought the standard today was appalling.
Why over umpired.
One thing about the SANFL is it is so free flowing unlike the AWFUL. Thats one of the things we all love.
Let the game go a bit ump's and back off a bit.

Totally agree Southee.

My beef has always been this.......I can handle shite umpiring.........what I can't handle is inconsistent shite umpiring!!

I thought it was just a product of the second rate umpires we got in the Elimination Final today, but after watching the first half of the Eagles/North game, it was just as bad!

Please.........Shane Harris........pick your BEST umpiring panel in all finals and perhaps educate them on (A) keeping their whistle out of their mouths and (B) what constitutes a free at one end of the ground, constitutes the same free at the other end of the ground.

Spoilt our great product today.

[Wedgie]

Im surprised noone's expanded on my earlier comment (except for perhaps Rhino's comment).

Am I the only one that feels its unbelievable that the best 6 umpires aren't umpiring this week?

[Rhino]

I'd agree Wedgie, but with one notable exception I saw in the Chappell Bar today.......R Williams.

[Wedgie]

I'd agree Wedgie, but with one notable exception I saw in the Chappell Bar today.......R Williams.

IMHO Richard Williams is easily the best umpire in the league but I know there's a lot of people that disagree with me.

I still blame Peter "Pubes" Williams for giving him a bad name and I ran out of fingers for the amount of times Ive been at a footy game with spectators abusing Richard when he's not even umpiring that game, it's quite amazing!

[redandblack]

As a neutral observer of the second game, I think the criticism is unfounded.

Both sides played tough football, but the umpires paid 'contact' consistently against both the Thunderbirds and the Swifts.